~Zaibok~ Through out the castle of Zaibok, an angry screech was heard. Princess Rikana ruthlessly slapped her servant. "YOU FOOL! I asked you to bring me THE girl, not that fleabag cat! I should have you hung by your toes on the highest tower. I'll have every soldier pelt you with rocks till you'll wish you were dead. HOW DARE YOU! FAILURE IS NOT EXCEPT ABLE!"

Ryuzaku backed up a step and cringed. "Ye-yes my Lady. I-I thought that. Prince Darien could have. err. I'll get her at once!" He shivered, imagining his punishment if he failed to get the girl this time. Rikana was not one to accept a failed mission. His mind drifted back to all the other warriors who had failed their missions. Most of them were either sleeping the long sleep, or in dungeons babbling about being fairies or dragons. He shivered. He was not going to let himself get tortured to insanity. He couldn't afford to not get this Serena.

Rikana glared at him, her eyes red with rage. She drew her sword, ready to slay the man for disobeying her. "You were to get Serena.. NOT the girl. prepare for your punishment, you shant get a second chance. She prepared to lunch at him, put before she could thrust, a voice stopped her.

Ryuzaku breathed a sigh of relief. He mentally reminded himself to thank the prince later.

Prince Darien stepped into the dimly lit room just as Rikana was about to thrust her sword into his longtime friend. "Ana-Chan! Stop! What are you doing?" Rikana merely glares and drops her sword, shaking her head and refusing to answer. Darien grabs Ryuzaku's hand and begins to drag him out of the room. He laughs, "common Zaku-papa! I want to show you something! The cat girl. she's nicer to me now!"

Rikana glares at their retreating forms, and calls out, "Ryuzaku. bring the correct girl by midnight of 2 days!" She mutters to herself, clenching and unclenching her fists, "~grumble~ Darien's beginning to be a nuisance. If he continues to interfere then he'll be killed.. Hmmph. that could be arranged.soon. Zaibok will belong to me, as well as Prince Van Fanel."

~Fanelia (sp?) ~

Laughter rang through the air around the castle. Outside in the gardens, Haruka and Hotaru were wrestling. Well more like Haruka was tickling Taru. Michiru sits in a tree, watching them and smiling at their antics. She was happy that Haruka was warming up to the girl. Hotaru remind her a lot of Meryl. A sad smile washed over her. She looks up into the sky through bright green leaves. 'Oh Meryl.. Please be ok.'

Serena glances around at her surroundings. She was in the castle, and helplessly lost. Sinking to the floor, she sighs. "Urg.. I'm never going to be able to get outta here!" Suddenly the sound of clashing metal pricks her ears. She slowly stands up and begins to follow the sound. She comes to a room with a door that is slightly ajar. From within the sounds of swords clashing and men panting is heard. Opening the door farther, she peeks inside. There was Allen and Van fighting..

"Van! You're not putting enough power into it!" Allen barked, as their blades connected.

Van merely smirks and unlocks the two blades; this causes Allen who was unprepared for this to swing his sword at the ground. Van jumps up, lands on top of his opponents' blade, and points the tip of his own weapon at Allen's neck. "Tsk tsk, power means nothing if one doesn't have to speed to go with it."

Allen laughs, amused "heh heh. true. Lord Van." he bows "you are truly a great warrior. You have surpassed even me. Congratulations! Ermm." he winks "just don't tell Hitomi."

Suddenly clapping interrupts their conversation, Serena fully steps into the room, her eyes dancing with joy and laughter. "Oh I don't know Allen. maybe Hitomi SHOULD here about this. It'll be good for your ego. And a girl really needs some good blackmail material ya know."

The two men bow. Allen speaks first. "Lady Serena I had no idea you were here to witness my humiliating defeat. You do realize that I consider you a good friend riiiighhht?"

Serena laughs, and shakes her head teasingly, "Oh yes, I know THAT. You're my best friend! But that's not going to stop me from telling my other best bud that you lost this little match."

Allen grimaces, disappointed. He pouts, looking a bit awkward on the usually stone-like warrior. Then begins to laugh.

Van soon joins in; he shakes his head at their antics as they soon begin to stick their tongues out at one another. Teasingly he comments, "You act as if you were little kids fighting over who has to do the chores. The two grin sheepishly. For a while theirs an uncomfortable silence, Serena walks off to the other side of the room to glance at the display of swords. Allen nods at Van and winks, mouthing. I'll leave you two alone. Van walks closer to Sere and notices she is admiring a certain sword. He speaks up. "Beautiful isn't it."

Serena slightly startled jumps; chuckling sheepishly at herself, she turns to grin at him. "Yes it is. Is it yours?"

Van smirks slightly, a mischievous glint appears in his eyes, "I meant you. does this mean you belong to me?" He chuckles amused as Serena blushes a deep red and stammers an I don't know. "But anyways, no the sword isn't mind. It belonged to my brother."

He walks up to her, after she'd turned back around to admire the sword. Nervously he wraps his arms around her and murmurs in her ear. "I meant what I said. you are beautiful. I know you've probably heard me ask plenty of times already. Moreover, I don't want to rush you. but I'm asking again. Will you be my Queen?" He squeezes her tighter, hugging her to himself, so the back of her head lies against his chest. Tilting his head a little, he rests his chin on top of her head and breathes in the scent of her hair. Strawberries, he smiles. "Well.?"

A faint blush spreads across Serena's cheeks. Suddenly it's harder for her to breathe. She didn't know what to do. Part of her was screaming, 'YES YES! I'll marry you, I love you. please.. I want to be with you forever.' the other was thinking, "no. I can't. I felt it. Darien's aura. I could feel it last night. in my dreams. He's still alive. I-I can't betray him. I cant bear to hurt any more of my friends.' Soon tears began to fall. She was so confused. She could, yet she couldn't. She didn't know whether to say yes or say no. She shook her head; tiny pearls sliding down her cheek. She wraps her own arms around herself, to hug his arms close to her. She didn't know what to say..

Ryusaku watches to couple from a window ledge, near the ceiling of the room. He grows to himself. It would be easy to merely snatch the maiden and be on his way. However, not with Van here. He knew that Van was an excellent swordsman. He doubted he could beat him at a sword fight without being seriously injured. Still glaring he brought out some daggers. They glinted in the sun, the tips black with knockout poison. Smirking he whispers softly, "Say good bye to your little princess.. Van Fanel."

TBC

Gomen for the short chapter, but its been forever since I posted one so I figured it doesn't matter how short, as long as I don't keep my readers waiting forever. Hope you enjoyed. Oh and X.x don't kill me because of the cliffy!

~Falconess